We were looking to get a car for my wife and I was pushing her for an S550. One night, at the Thousand Oaks, CA dealership I was greeted by an older gentleman (salesman) and when I said that we were looking for a new S-class his answer was one of the best I had heard so far: “these are probably too expensive. Would you be interested in something else?”. Now, any person accustomed to the American culture and lifestyle would have madly asked for the manager/VP/owner/etc to bitterly complain about the lack of respect, professionalism etc. Luckily for the salesperson, I spent the first 20 years of my life in a Communist country in Europe so, I’m not politically correct and in some way I appreciated his profiling: I wasn’t wearing an Armani suit nor did I have a Rolex watch so he immediately boxed me in a financial category which was incompatible with an S-class. Maybe, based on experience, his analysis saved him some time 10 out of 10 times in the past so if it worked then why not apply it again now?! So, I smiled and showed my utmost surprise when he said that those cars may easily reach $100k. Just to make him feel good (I was also having fun at this point!) I asked if he would maybe have a deal for a fully loaded manager’s S-class for half the price with some perks like, a 7-day all-paid vacation to Hawaii (after all, I’m buying an ...S-class!). I told him that my wife has never been to Hawaii and that trip would probably make her buy the car if he throws in free maintenance for 3 years. Needless to say, he wasn’t happy with my proposal! In the meantime my wife fell in love with an E63S sedan in the showroom and we ended up buying the wagon version but at a different dealership. I wanted one day to stop by (I was driving the AMG that day) and tell him the entire story and how I ended up buying an $127k AMG two weeks later after he turned me down for the expensive $100k S-class but I didn’t... why cloud up his day? In his mind he’s still running a perfect 100% statistical analysis and maybe he’s already written a book on human and cultural profiling! The funny part is that I service the wagon at the Thousand Oaks dealership and I saw him twice already while I have my coffee and look for a 7-day Hawaiian vacation deal on a new S-class... unfortunately, I still wear shorts instead of the Armani suit!

 

What a tool hole that old man is LOL. Cool story Sir.

 

I also don't dress to impress and get treated this way. It doesn't bother me at this point. I'm curious what the other side of this is. How many people that absolutely can't afford these cars stop by to impress their girlfriends and waste these salespeoples time? In the end, they probably lose a lot of business with the early judgement.

 

funny story and congrats with AMG wagon - you will smile more driving AMG wagon than S-class!

Regarding your experience - you just got not very smart salesperson. Good sales professional 'sees' the customer and immediately know what customer can afford.

I typically go in no name cloth (shorts and t-shirt) to check cars and somehow sales people run to me.

 

What an idiot!
I wonder how is he able to survive in this very, very tough business.
I was in MB sales in the 80s, one day a sewer tank truck pulled in front of my dealership and a guy in his 40s jumped out, dirty, very soiled jumpsuit and tall rubber boots with dried **** all over it.
All salesmen ran in all directions claiming their lunch break, I, a new guy , was the only one left to talk to him.
He stunk to high heaven.
He happened to be the owner of that company, decided to drive that day because one of his guys had an emergency and he refused to leave his customers stranded.
Bought on the spot a 560SEC for himself and SEL for his wife at the full MSRP, when he asked about a discount I answered in my German accent these models did not have any (I was new and had no idea I could give a discount so I sounded genuine)
Kept returning every year to replace both of them.

 

Well unfortunately for me this treatment is routine. I got it at dealers in Tyson's corner for Land rover, Mercedes and Audi. I just laugh and walk away. Back in 2014 I wanted to test drive a Range Rover, they wouldn't even let me see it. I was told it was sold. Another guy walks up asks to see one and in minutes he is driving the same car they told me was sold. I just searched and discovered a dealer in Alexandria. Went there. No problem, test drive whatever you like... I am on my second range rover from them. Same thing for Mercedes Benz Tysons Corner, story was there is no salesman free to show you a car... I didn't even waste a second. Walk away and soon as I got into my range rover to leave, I see stupid sales guy running over to assist. I just told him I am short on time see you next week (Never). Went to Arlington got myself a AMG C63S. No issues hehe. But one day I showed up to check out an AMG E63S on the floor that I was drooling over. I was on my bike. Well guess what, one particular guy couldn't be bothered. Told me its sold. Mind you am a regular there been checking out that car for couple weeks. Anyway what can you do. Lots silly people out there who will profile like crazy, but the best part is when someone else gets an easy sale and they loose out for their ignorance.

I have learned to avoid dealers in Tyson's corner. If they are the only ones with a car I want, I wont shop there. They can sell it to one of there usual customers, its a damn car and soon enough another one will show up somewhere I prefer to buy from. I would rather not deal with their atitudes when its my money am shelling out. Am still young (at-least I like to think so), but when I was younger I would get mad when treated like this. These days I have a good laugh at the fool profiling me and go about my day shop elsewhere. You cant fix stupid. When I find a dealer who appreciates my business I tend to stick with them. If you are going to treat people like that you have no business being in sales.

 

Funny story, thanks for sharing!

 

The guy is an idiot for sure. Lots of folks with $$ in SoCal dress pretty casual.

I wore a suit for years when I worked on the East coast - in Tysons corner.

Moved to San Diego and now the only time I wear a suit is at meetings while on travel. We tell people coming to visit us to dress casual and most appreciate it.